Great questions for our first week. Thank you to all the parents who asked!
Question 1: How do I choose summer camps or skills sessions in the summer? Even more how do I choose what not to do? Our kids are 11 and 13 and they both want to be on the ice as much as they can.
Answer: It's fantastic that your kids want to improve their hockey skills! However, during their developmental years, it's crucial to round out their athleticism by participating in other sports as well. Being on the ice once or twice a week is more than enough to satisfy their desire to skate without risking burnout. You don’t need to spend money on expensive one-week stay-away camps or even training sessions six days a week. At their age, they benefit more from competing in other sports and finding quality ice time once or twice a week, if at all.
Additionally, they can improve at home or away from the rink by rollerblading, stickhandling, or shooting pucks. These activities are great gauges of their interest and commitment level without putting too much pressure on them.
Question 2: My son is 15. he was approached by an advisor who wants to represent him. He plays AAA hockey, but his team is middle of the pack in MHR, and he is a good player on his team but not the best. I never played hockey, but I feel like this is crazy. Is it worth spending my money on this? By the way, it is $5,500.
Answer: Wow, that is a significant amount of money. Advisors, both paid and unpaid, can add value for sure. I have seen paid advisors help hundreds of kids find the right opportunities, especially if they are looking to make the jump to junior hockey or if they are in locations that aren't hockey hotbeds and need to find competitive midget or academy hockey.
That being said, timing is essential. Plenty of kids find their way through hockey without an advisor. The value of an advisor lies in helping you get into the best situation possible and opening more doors. Ultimately, your son’s performance will speak for itself, and when the time comes to move up the ladder, his play and his coaches can vouch for him.
Lastly, I recommend doing as much research as you can before paying anyone. Look into where their players are now and what connections they have. Most agents have a few programs and coaches they trust, and sometimes receive kickbacks for directing players there. Be careful; while there are many good people who do this the right way, there are also those who do not.